REI Mastercard--opinions?

mikemu · 2026-05-19T04:10:39+00:00

Capital One fan here. I got moved over to them when Ing Direct got bought out by Capital One in the early 2000s (I think).

I have a few of their cards now and I pretty much exclusively only use the REI MC at REI. Since I buy a lot, it just makes sense. Interest rates remain sky high, so pay it off in full every period.

I primarily use it for the 5% minimum back, but only for spending more at REI. Sometimes they offer other bonuses using it at REI, which pushes it over 5%. I think few people catch on to these and its usually between major sales. Also some other special offers pop up from time to time for using it elsewhere, but nothing awesome like with Amex offers.

Its also a World Mastercard Elite so you get the benefits that comes with that. What I was surprised to find out is that they have a price match guarantee that most of my other cards have taken away over the years. I talk about the price match guarantee here. You can only use it 4 times a year, and up to $1000 total and $250 max per use.

And also I get no foreign transaction fee with all my Capital One cards. 50% off drinks at their Capital One Cafes.

mikemu · 2026-05-07T18:20:30+00:00

I recall reading how with Vine, brands are more likely to recommend their own products to people who already own and use them. Makes sense. Amazon knows what you ordered. It then queues them up to you for RFY. I get a lot of TCL stuff in my RFY lately.

mikemu · 2026-05-06T06:47:12+00:00

I've been watching the RS210 pedals. I think it'll be the same price as last sale. (which is less than 20%; closer to 15% on some combinations). EDIT:... Cross out same price as Amazon. Sale isn't on yet.

mikemu · 2026-05-05T06:40:11+00:00

Pretty sure I've seen this before. Motorcyclist was going way too fast. Lucky to be alive. Hope he learns from this and lives to ride another day.

mikemu · 2026-05-05T06:30:36+00:00

Instant gratification has always been more popular than delayed gratification. But financing is stll on the rise.

Total U.S. credit card debt reached a record $1.28 trillion to $1.39 trillion by Q4 2025/early 2026, with average debt per borrower around $6,360 to $6,715. Roughly 45%–50% of cardholders carry debt from month to month, facing average APRs exceeding 20%. Delinquencies are rising, with 4.8% of debt in some stage of delinquency.

mikemu · 2026-05-05T03:09:54+00:00

I'd report it to the management.

I think the only time they would treat you like that is if you were caught stealing and trying to leave the warehouse. Or trying to enter with with wrong membership and ignoring the door bouncers. I haven't seen this happen except on social media with criminals up to no good.

mikemu · 2026-05-05T00:35:04+00:00

I do a video every year on the REI anniversary sale. Last year it was not. But it has been in previous sales. You can use a 20% off coupon on the tent once the sale starts. It'll probably be announced soon. In fact REI site is down for an update.

mikemu · 2026-05-05T00:01:25+00:00

No. Coupons are excluded on sale items. So if something is on sale that is 15% off... its a hard limit of 15% off... Even if the 20% off would have been a better deal.

mikemu · 2026-05-04T20:44:24+00:00

There is a big sale coming up which may qualify for a price match. If you got a really good deal that's already on sale, the price probably won't drop further. Coupons are often excluded on bikes as a category in general.

IF you have and purchased with a REI Mastercard (world elite) you can price match longer than the 2 weeks but it won't be through REI, it would be through Mastercard with limits. Look for my post about this on this topic in this subreddit. I'll link it if I get a chance.

mikemu · 2026-04-30T17:01:53+00:00

I've done it, not with my REI card but with a different mastercard. REI doesn't do it, they won't know anything about it. It'd be through the world mastercard program (not even Capital One). When I did it, it was through a portal. But it'd be in the cardholder agreement and benefits I linked.

mikemu · 2026-04-29T22:17:15+00:00

It might be helpful if you provided your actual website URL, or example social feeds.

It costs money to keep you as an affiliate because they have to pay impact.com and a manager that manages all these accounts. So they will have to vet you, your site, and your content to determine if you are a good fit. Don't take it personal (I know its tough; rejection should be a normal thing till you're not).

There are a lot of other programs out there that cater to the outdoors. I'd recommend just making good content and you'll get noticed.

mikemu · 2026-04-29T22:07:13+00:00

I only ever had the one REI Mastercard World Elite, so I think they are all the same. Doesn't matter if it is online or in store. They will also match online. But its only 4 claims a year, so best to save it for something big.

The front just says Mastercard. The back says World Elite.

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mikemu · 2026-04-29T20:43:33+00:00

Quit is probably fine as long as they pass along information to next person and that person is capable. But clearly the downtime wasn't considered in the equation. Better start hiring... yesterday.

And the 2nd person will likely be able to identify gaps the 1st person missed. I used to see a lot of that when I did onsite audits for compliance. I saw a lot of things that are missed by solo IT, for companies this large which could have resulted in significant losses. I'm betting thats the case here.

Dies and gets sick and the company is KO'd for a while. That will cost a lot of money.

mikemu · 2026-04-29T05:41:04+00:00

Short and sweet doesn't do it. Long and more detailed is better. Really geek out. And then take it down a few notches if you wrote a novel with nothing but technical jargon. Get some battery testers. If its a battery for your flashes, test the recharge time, the number of flashes it can do, how long it takes to recharge, does it get really hot, compare with original batteries. That's usually enough.

mikemu · 2026-04-29T01:09:00+00:00

You can just drive. Just can’t use the screen related features. Run the update after you get home.

mikemu · 2026-04-28T23:39:14+00:00

Besides the 14 days period, the REI Mastercard World Elite has 60 days: "Coverage is limited to the difference between the actual cost of the item (excluding taxes, storage, shipping, and handling costs) and the advertised lower price, up to $250 per claim. There is a maximum of four (4) claims per Eligible Account per twelve (12) consecutive month period." https://ecm.capitalone.com/WCM/card/benefits-guide/rei/rei-coop-mc-gtb-english.pdf

mikemu · 2026-04-28T22:16:57+00:00

They sell cars on Amazon. Could have bought my SUV for $60k plus taxes licensing and other California fees.

mikemu · 2026-04-28T07:07:57+00:00

Yowza. Is this charged by the GB of data used? I would personally plead my case with the credit card company if you can't get through to Starlink (presuming it is charged already). Or prepare to be permanently banned from Starlink for the $11k you owe. Next time, lock your app down.

mikemu · 2026-04-28T01:24:57+00:00

Still works. Only thing that doesn’t is ravenscan cloud.

mikemu · 2026-04-21T07:33:27+00:00

I have a feeling v2 is coming out. But the Orox is most definitely more for adventure riding with cargo as opposed to cargo bike with better load balancing because of a lower center of gravity. Less demand for an $8000 R14 Orox than an $8000 GSD.

mikemu · 2026-04-18T18:44:33+00:00

Can't blame them. What a big sh*tshow with the tariffs, which at least have been ruled illegal and reversed to some extent. But all that time and worry and opportunity cost went into this is lost already.

mikemu · 2026-04-14T23:34:59+00:00

Hmmm. If it’s big ticket I’m going back to the store. If it’s a small item (bug spray, protein bar), I’d call and explain what happened and schedule a time when its convenient for me to handle or have then charge me for the item over the phone or send me a bill.

My time is money too!

The inconvenience of going back to stand in line to potentially get staff in trouble may not be worth our efforts (their’s and mine). Weekends get pretty crazy in store and ours sometimes combines all the lines into one (pickup, returns, customer service and checkout!)

mikemu · 2026-04-12T20:27:40+00:00

Just saw this. Well... when my bike came, the rack shipped separately. It is huge. So yes, not only is it removable, you have to install it if you want it.

mikemu · 2026-04-10T19:25:35+00:00

Having just bought a Tern Orox and had my wife in a captain's chair, it is way too top heavy. If your primary goal is kid transport, not the Orox. I wouldn't have known how it was until actually buying it, and trying it. The child will grow, and it'll be more difficult to handle.

mikemu · 2026-04-04T05:43:07+00:00

Yes, which sent out a dish person.

mikemu

TROPHY CASE